Footrest for operating chairs



AM A. J. MAY 2044,92

FOOTREST FOR OPERATING CHAIRS Filed Sept. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet} INVENT OR isATTO E1 A. J. MAY

FOOTREST FOR OPERATING CHAIRS Filed Sept. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENT OR Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOTREST FOR OPERATING CHAIRS Application September 28, 1934, Serial No. 745,965

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to chairs, and more particularly to foot rests therefor of the adjustable variety which may be used on vari-' ous types of chairs such, for example, as those generally classed as operating chairs, although the improved construction may be employed in connection with other types of chairs Where it is desired to provide a childs foot rest above the main foot rest, generally provided for adults.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved foot rest of this class which is of simple construction, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and which can be readily and conveniently moved from one position to another without the use of levers or other operating parts,

such as have heretofore been required in connection with foot rests of the present type.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a dental or other operating chair, a frame or bracket attached'to the chair base and provided with a foot rest having improved supporting means permitting it to be adjusted to different service positions upon the frame with a minimum of effort and manipulation on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a childs foot rest for use on different types of operating chairs, in conjunction with the usual or main foot rests of such chairs, an object being to provide an improved foot rest which can be operated independently of the main foot rest and which will serve when at normal inoperative position as a panel for closing an opening in the frame or bracket for supporting the foot rest.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chair embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the foot rest supporting bracket detached from the chair base;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the upper or childs foot rest shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the foot rests in operating position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the upper foot rest released from the holding means therefor preparatory to moving it to lowered position;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the 55 upper foot rest in lowered .position, and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional elevation on line 1--! of Fig. 4.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents a chair base having a seat frame H carrying a seat or cushion I2 and certain other parts including the side arms I3 and the adjustable back support 14, which may be of any preferred construction. The chair is preferably of the extensible type and may be raised and lowered by any suitable means, not shown.

The seat frame H carries a downwardly and forwardly extending frame or bracket comprising spaced side members l5 having extended arm portions it upon which is pivotally supported at I! the usual or main foot rest [8 which can be swung to a substantially vertical out of the way position when not in use, if desired.

The upper ends of the frame members l5 are seated upon lugs 19 on the seat frame H, said ends being secured upon the lugs by the screw bolts -20, Fig. 1. The frame members 15 are provided at their upper ends with inwardly projecting flanges 2|, between which extends a tie member 22 suitably connected with the flanges as by means of the screws 23. The tie member serves also as a panel for closing the opening between the childs foot rest 21 and the seat frame II.

The frame members iii are also connected and tied together by a rod 25, the opposite ends of which are threaded within the boss-like members 26 on the inner faces of said frame members, the rod being provided with jam ends 21 for holding it in properly adjusted position.

The main foot rest [8 may be constructed in any suitable manner and is provided with a pair of rearwardly projecting arms 28 which engage supporting lugs 29 on the inner faces of the frame members 15, whereby to support said foot rest in lowered or horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The upper or childs foot rest, indicated generally at 2 1, preferably comprises a substantially rectangular metal frame having front and rear sections or portions 30 and 31, respectively, which are connected by parallel side portions 32, the latter having rearward-1y projecting arms or extensions 32a provided to form supporting means for the foot rest. A board 330i any suitable material is fitted within said metal frame and has positioned thereon a coverplate 34 formed of any suitable material, such, for example, as rubber or the like.

The foot rest 24 is supported for a swinging movement to and from foot rest position by a pair of arms or links 35, the lower ends of which are pivotally supported by the screws 38 which take into the inwardly extending lugs 31 on the side frame members I5. The upper ends of the links are pivotally connected with the side portions 32 of the foot rest frame by the screws 38. A spring 39 is interposed between each of the links 35 and a stud Ml on one of the side frame members i5, the springs tending to hold the links in the vertical position shown in Fig. 4, in which the foot rest is in foot supporting position.

Holding means is provided for the foot rest supporting extensions 32a comprising the recessed lugs 4| located on the inner faces of the side frame members 55, the extensions 32a having projections 32b which take into the recessed portions of the lugs M, as shown in Fig. 4, whereby the foot rest is supported in horizontal operating position. The lugs 4! are provided with extended portions 42, the front faces 43 of which form bearing surfaces for the free ends of the foot rest extensions 320. when the foot rest is in the lowered or substantially vertical position shown in Fig. 6, said faces also forming guide means for the foot rest when moving it from lowered to raised position. In the position of the foot rest shown in Fig. 6 the springs 39 operate through the links 35 to urge the free ends of the extensions into engagement with the slightly curved surfaces 43 of the lug extensions $2, the links 35 also exerting sufficient pressure on the foot rest to maintain its lower or front portion in engagement with the yieldable stops 44 which are preferably carried by the lugs 29 for supporting the arms 28 of the lower or main foot rest I8. The stops 44 may be constructed of any suitable yieldable material, such as rubber.

The front portion 3|] of the foot rest frame is provided with an opening 45 for the insertion of the finger of the operator to permit him to adjust or move the foot rest between the extended and folded portions shown in Figs. 4 and 6, respectively In moving the foot rest from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 6, it is necessary to first tilt it upwardly as shown in Fig. 5 to move the projections 3217 out of the recesses of the lugs 4i, after which by pulling outwardly on the foot rest said projections will be made to clear the lugs thereby, permitting the foot rest to be swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6. To return the foot rest to raised position, it is necessary to insert the finger in the opening 45 and to pull upwardly on the foot rest, at which time the ends of the extensions 32a will ride-upon and be guided by the faces 43 of the portions 42 of the lugs whereby the portions 32?) of the extensions will be directed into the recesses Ma of said lugs. As soon as the extensions have been moved downwardly to a position at which they will clear the guiding portions 43 of the lugs, the springs 39 will operate automatically through the links 35, to move the foot rest rearwardly to the operating position shown in Fig. 4.

It will be understood that when the foot rest 24 is in the lowered position shown in Fig, 6 that it will serve as a panel for closing the opening formed by the main foot rest I8, the upper panel member 22, and the side members I5 of the foot rest supporting frame or bracket.

With the foot rest construction shown, no levers or operating parts of any kind are required to move the foot rest 24 to or from operating position,

other than the part 30 having the opening 45 therein, which part constitutes a portion of the foot rest itself.

Furthermore, when the foot rest is in the lowered position, shown in Fig. 6, the parts for supporting and controlling its movements are all hidden from view so as not to detract from the appearance of the chair.

Moreover said foot rest when in said lowered position serves to form a rest or support for the main foot rest 3 when the latter is folded back to a substantially vertical inoperative position upon the frame members l5.

While the present foot rest construction is particularly adapted for use on operating chairs such, for example, as those used by dentists, oculists, and others authorized to perform surgical operations, it may also be used in connection with other types of chairs where there may be a particular need for the same.

I claim:

1. The combination with a chair and a foot rest, of means movable on the chair on which the foot rest is movably mounted for bodily movement to and from operative and inoperative positions, interengaging parts on the chair and foot rest for locking the foot rest in operative position, and a device for resiliently retaining said interengaging parts in contact with each other while the foot rest is moved to or from operative or inoperative position on the chair.

2. The combination with a chair and a foot rest, of links on the chair supporting the foot rest for a swinging movement to and from operative and inoperative positions, interengaging parts on the chair and foot rest for guiding the foot rest in said swinging movements and supporting it in operative position, and means for resiliently urging said parts in contact with each other during said swinging movement and moving them relatively to each other when the foot rest is moved to the operative position to engage one with the other.

3. The combination with a chair having a pair of depending frame members, of a foot rest mounted on said frame members to swing to and from lowered and raised positions, holding means on said frame for supporting the foot rest in raised position, means for mounting the foot rest on the frame so as to permit a movement thereof in one direction when in raised position to disengage it from its holding means and in another direction to its lowered position, and a guide on said holding means on the frame for guiding the foot rest in its swinging movements to and from operative position and directing it into engagement with said holding means.

4. The combination with a chair having a pair of supporting frame members, of a pair of links pivoted on said frame members, a foot rest carried on said links and movable thereon, supporting means for the foot rest projecting rearwardly thereof, holding means on the frame members cooperating withsaid supporting means for holding the foot rest in raised operative position, said foot rest being movable on the links to engage and disengage the supporting means with said holding means and said links being movable to permit movement of the foot rest thereon to inoperative position, resilient means for moving the links in an opposite direction, and means on the holding means for limiting the action of said resilient means while the foot rest moves to and from operative position.

5. The combination with a chair having a pair 75 of opposing frame members, of a foot rest mounted on said frame members to swing from an operative to an inoperative position, a holding means on one of said frame members, supporting means on said foot rest arranged to engage the holding means to hold the foot rest in operative position, a guide on said holding means for directing the supporting means into engagement therewith, resilient means for engaging the supporting means with the guide, and a stop for limiting the movement of the supporting means under the action of said resilient means when it moves from engagement with the guide.

6. The combination with a chair having a pair of opposing frame members, a pair of links pivoted on said frame members, a foot rest pivoted in said links, extensions on the foot rest projecting rearwardly therefrom, lugs projecting inwardly from said frame members, interengaging means on said extensions and lugs for securing the foot rest in operative position, said foot rest being movable to an inoperative position by an upward movement of its front end to disengage itfrom the lugs and a bodily forward movement to permit the rear ends of the extensions to move upwardly past said projecting lugs, resilient means urging said extensions toward said lugs, and means on the lugs for limiting the action of said resilient means.

7. The combination with a chair having a pair of depending frame members, of a foot rest mounted on said frame members to swing to and from operative and inoperative positions, extensions projecting rearwardly from the foot rest, and having projections thereon, recessed lugs on said frame members arranged to receive said projections to lock the foot rest in operative position, bearing surfaces on said frame members for the free ends of said extensions when the foot rest is moved to and from operative position, and means for resiliently urging the free ends of said extensions into engagement with said bearing surfaces.

8. The combination with a chair having a pair of depending frame members, of a foot rest pivotally mounted on said frame members to swing from an operative to an inoperative position thereon, locking means on said frame members for locking the foot rest in operative position, bearing means on said frame members for guiding the foot rest to and from operative position, and resilient means for urging the foot rest into engagement with said bearing means and resiliently retaining the foot rest in its inoperative position on said frame members.

ADAM J. MAY. 

